Kentucky opens at No. 18 in initial 2024 KenPom Ratings

Kentucky is projected as a top-25 team ahead of the 2023-24 college basketball season — anchored by a top-10 offense that ranks first in the SEC.

KenPom released its official 2024 preseason rankings on Sunday with the Wildcats entering the year at No. 18 overall, an adjusted efficiency margin of 20.30. That’s good for the No. 10 overall offense (111.2) in the nation along with the No. 35 defense (90.9).

AdjEM is the difference between a team’s offensive and defensive efficiency, meaning Kentucky is expected to outscore the average D-1 team over 100 possessions by 20.30.

How do the Wildcats stack up against SEC competition? While their offense is projected to be the best in the conference, the team still sits at No. 5 overall behind Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas and Auburn — all in the top 15.

Take a look at the complete top 25:

1. Purdue (+26.62)
2. Kansas (+26.31)
3. Houston (+26.10)
4. Connecticut (+25.53)
5. Gonzaga (+25.38)
6. Arizona (+23.27)
7. Baylor (+23.13)
8. Tennessee (+22.83)
9. Duke (+22.57)
10. Alabama (+22.43)
11. Marquette (+22.17)
12. Creighton (+22.10)
13. Michigan State (+21.56)
14. Arkansas (+21.36)
15. Auburn (+21.02)
16. Texas (+20.78)
17. North Carolina (+20.65)
18. Kentucky (+20.30)
19. Illinois (+20.16)
20. Wisconsin (+20.01)
21. USC (+19.76)
22. Maryland (+18.95)
23. Villanova (+18.74)
24. Texas A&M (+18.63)
25. Kansas State (+18.57)

The SEC is rated as the No. 2 conference in college basketball (+16.39 AdjEM), behind only the Big 12 (+17.10). All teams within the conference sit inside the top 100 including nine in the top 50 and six in the top 25.

8. Tennessee
10. Alabama
14. Arkansas
15. Auburn
18. Kentucky
24. Texas A&M
27. Mississippi State
39. Florida
47. LSU
55. Missouri
57. Georgia
66. South Carolina
79. Vanderbilt
82. Ole Miss

ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25

KenPom’s official preseason rankings come following the release of ESPN’s way-too-early top 25 last week. There, Kentucky opened at No. 15 overall and No. 2 in the SEC, behind only Tennessee at No. 8.

Originally listing Ugonna Onyenso has a projected starter, ESPN now lists Aaron Bradshaw as the starting five to go with DJ Wagner, Antonio Reeves, Justin Edwards and Tre Mitchell.

“While questions remain over the experience and youth in this season’s Kentucky squad, there are no doubts about the talent level in Lexington,” ESPN’s Jeff Borzello writes.

1. Kansas
2. Duke
3. Purdue
4. Michigan State
5. UConn
6. Houston
7. Marquette
8. Tennessee
9. Creighton
10. Gonzaga
11. Florida Atlantic
12. Arizona
13. Villanova
14. North Carolina
15. Kentucky
16. Arkansas
17. Baylor
18. San Diego State
19. Miami (FL)
20. Texas A&M
21. Texas
22. Alabama
23. Saint Mary’s
24. USC
25. St. John’s

The official preseason college basketball rankings are set to roll out this week, along with SEC Basketball Media Days on Oct. 18 and 19.

Basketball season is here.